Massachusetts' highest court has decided to allow a wrongful termination lawsuit to move forward, setting up what could potentially be a significant legal decision for employees who use medical marijuana outside of work.

Lower courts had dismissed claims by Cristina Barbuto that she was inappropriately terminated in 2015 by Advantage Sales and Marketing. Monday, the justices of the Supreme Judicial Court determined that her case will be allowed to move forward.

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Barbuto, who has Crohn's disease and irritable bowl syndrome, said that she was using medical marijuana outside the workplace for treatment and argues that the use is protected under state law. Her legal team said she got the job in 2014 and, prior to a drug test, informed managers she would test positive for marijuana.

However, she was fired in September, when she claims the business decided, "We follow federal law, not state law."

Arguments against Barbuto's claims include the fact that the state's medical pot law cannot override federal law and that it does not prohibit employers from firing employees for using marijuana.

Monday's decision from the SJC ordered the Superior Court to hold additional proceedings on Barbuto's lawsuit.

In a similar case, Coats v. Dish Network, the Colorado Supreme Court did decide that companies can fire workers for using medical marijuana outside the workplace.